The Future of ETFs

Barron’s gathered the ETF industry’s leaders to discuss what will drive growth, some needed changes, and how you should invest.

The exchange-traded-fund industry is much like Greek life on a college campus: It’s a bit rowdy and full of friendly competition, everyone speaks in letters as shorthand, and they all grew up together, in a sense. Put four industry leaders in a room and the ebullient trash-talking immediately begins.

But these four are some of the best minds in the fast-growing, yet also maturing, business. There’s $2.8 trillion in 2,000...